Fearing Pond

Fearing Pond is one of the four camping ponds in Myles Standish State Forest, and DCR calls it one of the forest's largest and most beautiful. It has two camping areas, H and I, a large day-use parking lot on the paved bike path, and the only CCC-era log bathhouse left in the Massachusetts state park system. DCR stocks Fearing Pond with trout every spring and fall, and it has an accessible fishing spot with a beach mat.

Camping at Fearing Pond

ReserveAmerica lists Fearing Pond as two loops. Area H is the larger, with about 41 sites: 24 pop-up or tent sites, 14 RV or trailer sites and three standard sites, all with 25-foot back-in spaces. Area I is smaller, with about 18 sites, mostly standard sites with 20-foot back-ins and four tent-only sites.

Each site allows up to four people and has a picnic table and fire ring. Showers and flush toilets are in each loop. There are no hookups. Sites cost $17 a night for Massachusetts residents and $54 for out-of-state campers, booked ahead on ReserveAmerica. Full booking rules are on the camping page.

The CCC Log Bathhouse

The Civilian Conservation Corps built much of Myles Standish in the 1930s: the fire roads, the campgrounds and the day-use areas. DCR's trail map says the log bathhouse at Fearing Pond is the only remaining CCC-era log bathhouse in the whole Massachusetts state parks system, and its guides call it the last CCC structure in the forest.

Next to the bathhouse is a large stone firepit, also built by the CCC and, according to DCR, still in use. If you ride the Camping Pond Loop, stop here; it is a rare chance to see Depression-era park building that is still doing its job. More history on the about page.

Trout Fishing at Fearing Pond

Fearing Pond is the forest's stocked trout pond. DCR says it is stocked in the spring and again in the fall. The forest's other ponds hold largemouth and smallmouth bass, yellow perch and pickerel. You need a Massachusetts freshwater fishing license, which DCR links to from its park page. More on ponds and fishing.

DCR lists accessible fishing with a beach mat at Fearing Pond, one of the forest's accessibility features.

Watch the sky too. DCR's fall birding guide says ospreys hover over and hunt the larger kettle ponds, and it names Fearing Pond as one of them.

Getting to Fearing Pond by Bike

DCR's easiest bike route, the 6.25-mile Camping Pond Loop, starts at headquarters and follows signs to Fearing Pond. Where the bike path crosses Cutter Field Road, Fearing Pond is on your right through the large parking lot. From there the path continues to Charge Pond and loops back to headquarters.

Swimming

DCR's designated swimming area for day visitors is College Pond, not Fearing Pond. College Pond has a seasonal beach, bathhouse and restrooms.

Good For

• Trout anglers in spring and fall.
• Families on bikes: Fearing Pond is a stop on DCR's easy pond loop.
• Anyone curious about CCC history.

Maybe Skip If

• You camp with horses. Only Charge Pond's Area C takes them.
• Your trailer is over 25 feet. Several Charge Pond loops list 30-foot back-ins.